The university professor highlighted, in statements to the Lusa agency, that this was the central element of the speeches of the MPLA, in power, and UNITA, in the opposition, stressing that the speech of the president of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), João Lourenço, “made a series of very important notes”, highlighting the message addressed to the Angolan football team that participated in the African Cup of Nations, expressing unconditional support from the State.
According to the specialist in international relations, in general terms the leader of the MPLA gave his speech about “the frantic and extremely difficult trajectory” of the country since its independence, highlighting that that political formation in 50 years managed to guarantee some sustainability for the people.
“But he also spoke of the main challenges that are economic and social development and that can objectively bring well-being to the Angolan people”, he said.
For Almeida Henriques, “the undisputed high point” in his speech is the issue of organizing a new administrative political division, with João Lourenço stating that no other party took the initiative of administrative decentralization and deconcentration policies like the MPLA, and particularly local authorities.
“Which implies that he is the one who is most prepared to organize this process, for this reason the initiative of the administrative political division was taken, so that communication at all levels with the communities can be achieved in a closer manner”, advanced.
Unlike the MPLA, which defends a nationwide autonomous political model, albeit in a phased manner, the leader of UNITA, Adalberto Costa Júnior, defended administrative autonomy for the province of Cabinda in his speech.
According to the teacher, this is an element of contradiction in the political agenda, and the MPLA “has once again proven that, regardless of any delay in achieving the main objective of local authorities, there is no lack of will and the paths are being traced”.
“And one of the significant steps is the proposal for the political administrative division of two provinces, which adds up to four, this is how the MPLA defends itself. Now, UNITA has a contrary view, that the MPLA lacks political will to implement the autarchies,” he said.
The analyst argued that progress should be made towards the implementation of local authorities, given that, "in a strategic way", the ruling party would empty the political speeches of those who oppose power.
"Perhaps it would be one of the greatest assets, because, moving towards the local authorities, UNITA in particular is left half-empty in terms of its biggest challenges, because at this point the biggest point of competition is the local authorities", he noted.
The analyst looked at UNITA's choice of Cabinda as a form of gratitude to its electoral square, where it intends to remain victorious, as well as in Luanda, in the capital.
“There is a frantic political demonstration between the two parties in search of consolidating existing electoral squares, which is not easy to maintain the same profile, the same dimension from the point of view of population acceptance if not even militancy, because times are changing. changing and circumstances are also changing”, he stressed.
In addition to the local authorities, Almeida Henriques considered that at this point the focus is also on reevaluating the policies that must be designed so that each party can prove that it should continue in power, in the case of the MPLA, and that it may deserve power, in the case of the opposition.
